Pages

Avnet Technology Solutions has entered into a new distribution partnership with Denver-based cloud provider PeakColo, the Tempe, Ariz.-based IT solutions distributor said Monday. The partnership will make Peak's cloud services platform more readily available to channel partners. In addition, Avnet introduced its first cloud solution powered by Peak that features NetApp(R) Private Storage for Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Cloud Accelerator Program Powered by Peak combines the flexibility of AWS with NetApp's enterprise storage and is a full operational expense model, according to Tim FitzGerald, vice president of Avnet. The solution allows channel partners to white-label Peak's cloud, enabling them to offer cloud services by integrating PeakColo's enterprise-class cloud services platform, he said.

"What PeakColo provides is the technology for a [cloud] solution but consumed in a way that doesn’t require customers to own it," said FitzGerald. "It allows end customers to sign contracts that could be as short as 12 months for the services built on NetApp Private Storage for AWS."

As the world of IT expands, channel partners will ultimately benefit from this solution because it will speed the time to market and lower costs, said Fitzgerald.

"It helps those partners get to market faster with a compelling solution and it takes the [capital] cost out of them [allowing them to become] more competent in cloud solutions," said FitzGerald.

According to FitzGerald, Avnet's existing solutions fall into seven different categories, including backup and disaster recovery, productivity, test and development, security, application hosting and management, remote management and monitoring, and data center as a service. The NetApp Private Storage AWS cloud solution will address customers' challenges with IT infrastructure, including disaster recovery, storage and backup, production workloads and networking. Readily available, enterprises will be able to access the solution through Avnet's channel community without having to purchase additional hardware or software.

"PeakColo works as the infrastructure-as-a-service [IaaS] platform that provides a unique opportunity for overall solutions to be brought to market under the partners' brand," said FitzGerald. "It allows partners to add services over and above what PeakColo and Avnet are providing to that partner, and gives increased profitability and a longer-term strategic partnership with their end customer."